County Durham

County Durham's population increased by about 19,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed half a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of County Durham increased by 4.0%, from just over 493,000 to 513,000.

The addition of just under 20,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, County Durham was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North East's second-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was similar to the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older County Durham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of County Durham increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This area had the third-highest average age in the North East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 13,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 20,000.

About 12.0% of people in County Durham are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and County Durham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in County Durham

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in County Durham was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.6 points.

In 2011, 20.9% of respondents in County Durham gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 9.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.0% to 23.4%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in County Durham, 72.0% said they were Christian, compared with 83.5% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 6.4% to 5.9%.

In County Durham, 5.9% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.4% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in County Durham increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and County Durham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of County Durham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13.2% to 8.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 62.6% in 2001. The percentage of County Durham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24.2% to 16.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12.0% in 2001 to 7.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in County Durham decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in County Durham, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

County Durham saw the North East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.1%) households in County Durham had no children, compared with 59.3% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 29.7% to 27.3%.

Across the region, only Sunderland saw a greater rise in the proportion of households without children (from 56.3% to 59.4%).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households without children, as the regional average grew from 59.6% to 61.6%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in County Durham working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11.1% to 8.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in County Durham decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in County Durham, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

County Durham saw the North East's third-largest rise in the proportion of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 in County Durham said they were in education, compared with 1.8% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 49.2% to 50.7%.

Across the region, only Newcastle upon Tyne (from 3.8% to 6.8%) and Middlesbrough (from 3.0% to 4.4%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of students.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of students, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 3.3%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in County Durham

The percentage of County Durham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.5% to 5.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of County Durham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.3%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 4.2% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of socially rented homes fell in County Durham at a faster rate than in Bridgend (one of the most statistically similar areas to County Durham based on ONS area classifications).

In County Durham, the proportion of social housing decreased from 25.4% in 2001 to 20.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Bridgend decreased from 14.4% to 13.8%.

Across the North East, the share of socially rented homes decreased from 27.5% to 23.0%.

Private renting in County Durham increased from 5.9% to 12.6%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66.8% to 65.8%.

The rate of social housing in County Durham decreased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in County Durham, the North East and England that rented socially, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in County Durham, which comprised one person, increased from 29.2% to 31.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.9%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in County Durham which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39.4% to 34.1%.

The proportion of one-person households increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 30.7% in 2001 to 31.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in County Durham that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.8% to 12.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 52.7% in 2001. The percentage of single people in County Durham increased from 27.2% to 32.5%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.9% in 2001 to 12.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of County Durham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.9% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 2.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in County Durham remained close to 3.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and County Durham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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